FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

BATTERED BUT NEVER BROKEN

OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL REFLECTS ON THE CLASS OF 2021.

By Greg Ventre

HEAD OF SCHOOL

GREG VENTRE

“The whole school celebrated their

final days on campus with a joyous parade, reminding them that we are still a community and that they were appreciated as the oldest,

”most experienced, and admired

Dragons of all.

I am especially pleased to be writing my final piece for our magazine as a tribute to the Class of 2021. These 74 Dragons, with 23 lifers amongst them, have had a most unique senior year—one that began in a virtual learning mode, slowly progressed to a hybrid model and, finally, emerging into a full blown on-campus final few months. They separated in March of 2020 and were not whole again until almost a year later. Still, they remained a family.

In my remarks at Commencement, I attempted to draw some parallels between the Class of 2021 and the Brood X cicadas who serenaded us during the ceremony. Essentially born in the same year, they spent the last 17 years or so emerging into young adulthood, finally to spring forward and fly off to…. well, for our insect friends, to oblivion.

Happily, the prospects for the Class of 2021 are much brighter. While our rather aimless cicada friends seemed to be flying around without a plan, we know they were driven by their genetic code to sing out, make connections, and achieve their fated purpose.

Our seniors sang out as well. They were clear about how they wanted their year to end and were determined to ensure that they made the connections they had to make to feel like a class again. That they achieved and taught us all useful lessons along the way.

Most importantly, they showed us how to be positive, creative, and dogged in reaching their goals despite the many obstacles placed before them. Having been shut out of most of their artistic and athletic pursuits, when things opened back up in spring, they jumped into these endeavors with characteristic energy. The whole school celebrated their final days on campus with a joyous parade, reminding them that we are still a community and that they were appreciated as the oldest, most experienced, and admired Dragons of all.

The last year has not been easy, but the Class of 2021 will always be remembered as the class who pushed through and emerged as a unique and successful class. Dragons to the end: battered, but never bowed.

Good luck to them and to everyone at GCS. Thank you for your support.

Greg Ventre Head of School